20 Genius Movie Quotes Parents Can Use During Their Back-to-School Pep Talks
Back-to-school season is not only rough on the kiddos, but also parents -- and definitely teachers. There's something about the transition from fun summery days with no responsibilities to stricter bedtimes, catching the school bus, and homework that can drive children of all ages bonkers. This is one of the reasons why some parents have a back-to-school "pep talk" with school-aged kids to lift up their spirits and get them out of the house and energized for the new year with the least amount of resistance possible.
Because, if they don't leave willingly on their own, just how in the heck are moms going to reclaim their "free" time?
Believe it or not, a number of films have catchy quotes and one-liners that not only secure a spot in our memories, but can also inspire us to achieve greatness -- or whatever motivational goal we're trying to achieve. Yes, knowledge is power, and it's important to read books, but there's nothing wrong with pulling one or two (or five) inspirational lines from a movie.
... and they don't have to all be G-rated movies, either. (Yes, it's true.)
Here's a look at some random films that have randomly wonderful words of encouragement any parent can use in a pep talk to get a child excited for school. Granted, some lines might be better received (and understood) depending on the age of a child, but they're all quite inspirational in their own right. The quotes come from movies one might not think to look as a source for uplifting words to help kids get through the new academic school year.
Happy pep talks.
"Keep Swimming"
"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming."
-- Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), Finding Nemo
"Fear Is Not Real"
"Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity. Do not misunderstand me: Danger is very real, but fear is a choice."
-- Cypher Raige (Will Smith), After Earth
"Don't Worry"
"You have more power than you realize. Don't think, and don't worry ... you'll know what to do. It's in your blood."
-- Helen "Elastigirl" Parr (Holly Hunt), The Incredibles
"Go Get It"
"You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, [so] they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want something, go get it. Period."
-- Christopher Gardner (Will Smith), The Pursuit of Happyness
"Stick Together"
"If we stick together, all of us, we'll win."
-- Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher), It (2017)
The Road to Take
"I always get to where I'm going by walking away from where I've been."
-- Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin
"More Connects Us Than Separates Us"
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: More connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe."
-- T'Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Black Panther
"Dream a Little Bigger"
"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."
-- Eames (Tom Hardy), Inception
"A Great Deal of Bravery"
"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends."
-- Dumbledore (Richard Harris), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
"Life Moves Pretty Fast"
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
-- Ferris (Matthew Broderick), Ferris Bueller's Day Off
"Knowing the Path"
"... There's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path."
-- Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), The Matrix
"A Better Idea"
"Sometimes life has a better idea."
-- Arnie Klien (Alan Arkin), Marley & Me
"Pretty Bizarre"
"We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all."
-- Andrew (Emilio Estevez), The Breakfast Club
"The Hardest Choices"
"The hardest choices require the strongest will."
-- Thanos (Josh Brolin), Avengers: Infinity War
Carrying the Load
"I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you."
-- Sam (Sean Astin), Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Accomplishing Anything
"If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything."
-- Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Back to the Future
It's Not Going to Be Easy
"You didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you?"
-- O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), Kill Bill: Vol 1